Escape Artists fulfills its purpose at the meeting point of clients, contractors, artists and stakeholders - providing a service which achieves tangible educational and developmental results through professionally managed artistic activity.

We don’t just see our workshops or productions as a one-off. We want to ensure that the vital importance of people’s creativity in promoting health and social welfare can continue to be developed in sustainable forms.

On a more general level, our whole reason for being is to provide access to the arts within some of the country's most disadvantaged communities; such as those within Young Offender Institutions, Secure Hospitals, Prisons, Mental Health Institutions, Hostels for the Homeless, Hospices and elsewhere.

Escape Artists is one of the few dedicated organisations with the experience, resources and training to be able to work with all parties within these sectors, both nationally and internationally.

Follow the links on the left to see how we work in partnership with clients, contractors, artists and stakeholders. And follow the links on the right, or from the drop down menu, for more information about the people that we work for.

The Bridge

Our model of socially inclusive arts practice

Our core aim as an organisation is to build a bridge for our clients which provides them with a route from the margins to the mainstream.

Ultimately, this means that clients with the skills and motivation to cross the bridge can go on to gain sustainable employment in our own organisation or elsewhere within the cultural sector.

It also allows those within the mainstream to learn more about and understand the perspectives of others with very different life experiences.

However, we realise that successfully crossing our bridge is just one possible outcome in a journey that may present countless other opportunities or setbacks.

That’s why we are striving to create an integrated way of working that provides structured support at all points on our bridge, so that those clients not willing or able to cross can access other routes to personal and professional development.

Criminal justice sector

Mental health sector

Young people at risk

Sue Ryder Care

Homeless people

People who contract us recognise that the arts can be a powerfully enabling tool with which to motivate and engage their clients in enriching activities. Contractors are seeking bespoke arts and pre-employment training programmes delivered by experienced personnel with a thorough understanding of the sector they are working in.

On behalf of contractors we can manage the day-to-day administration - sourcing and employing appropriate artists, handling security issues such as CRB clearances, undertaking risk assessments and providing the necessary insurances.

We can provide: accredited courses (covering a range of fields from pre-employment training to drama - delivered by trained experts), small scale educational productions, talks by ex-offenders and more.

Escape Artists provides the resources, the trained personnel, the right programme a contractor needs to efficiently create a stimulating programme, designed to meet the needs of his or her client group.

'The whole team of Escape Artists is professional,
supportive and a joy to work with...
I look forward to working with you again in the future.'

FE Team Leader, HMYOI Portland

For stakeholders Escape Artists acts as an independent, experienced agency through which stakeholders can confidently promote or pursue their individual or organisational objectives, such as:

• Social inclusion objectives
• High quality arts education
• Access to specialist knowledge across the sector
• Access to local, national and international networks
• High quality artistic productions demonstrating the value of social inclusion
• Corporate social responsibility
• Charitable objectives

Stakeholders play a crucial role in making our projects happen. If you have a particular area of interest, or a specific project you would like to see undertaken, Escape Artists can help. We are one of the few charities in the UK working with a fully integrated approach to arts and social inclusion, The Bridge.

For more information on how we could work together please refer to the Support Us section of the website, or call Matthew Taylor or Alexander Leiffheidt in the Development Office on 020 7655 0909 or email at development@escapeartists.co.uk

What follows is an abstract based on our experience of what artists have been telling us over the last few years:

'I am a freelance artist who is privileged to have had access to high quality arts education and training, and I am able to work regularly in the commercial and educational sectors.

I know that the arts can have an enhancing effect on people’s lives.

I am fortunate to have had some experience of working with vulnerable groups, delivering an arts programme which created an environment like no other. Witnessing the change in people who started out with little or no self-confidence was a powerful lesson in what the arts can do, and what people can achieve, given the right support.

I would like to work in a prison or with other marginalised people - but I don’t want to be an employee - I need to retain my flexibility, my freelance status. I need to work in partnership with an organisation that is well-connected, with a knowledge of the system that can find work for me.

I know I have the ability to deliver artistic programmes of the highest quality, but I am aware that I need to develop my skills and gain a deeper understanding of the issues facing prisoners and other marginalised groups if my work is to have any long-term effect.

I recognise the need for administrative support so that I can focus on delivery. Working with vulnerable groups requires insurance, Criminal Records clearance, Child Protection policies, codes of practice, things which I simply don’t have the time or the knowledge to manage.

I want to work with and learn from other artists with experience in this field and I need access to the right equipment and educational materials so that I can realise my ideas.'

Escape Artists provides individual artists with the services and support they need:

• Accreditation for your education programmes
• CRB clearance
• Contracts & insurance management
• Materials & equipment
• Administrative support
• Professional development
• Access to teaching materials
• Current information & policies
• Consistent employment
• Stimulating & challenging working environment
• Access to artistic networks

We match artists and their unique skills with the right client group and we facilitate and support access for the artist to continued work opportunities in the sector.

If you are interested in working with us, please fill in our Online Questionnaire before calling us.

More information on training for artists who wish to work in the area of arts and social inclusion can be found here.